Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American StageThis book explores the emergence of Greek tragedy on the American stage from the nineteenth century to the present. Despite the gap separating the world of classical Greece from our own, Greek tragedy has provided a fertile source for some of the most innovative American theater. Helene P. Foley shows how plays like Oedipus Rex and Medea have resonated deeply with contemporary concerns and controversies—over war, slavery, race, the status of women, religion, identity, and immigration. Although Greek tragedy was often initially embraced for its melodramatic possibilities, by the twentieth century it became a vehicle not only for major developments in the history of American theater and dance but also for exploring critical tensions in American cultural and political life. Drawing on a wide range of sources—archival, video, interviews, and reviews—Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American Stage provides the most comprehensive treatment of the subject available. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
chapter one Greek Tragedy Finds an American Audience 27 42 | 27 |
chapter three Democratizing Greek Tragedy | 122 |
Plagues | 170 |
Deconstructing Fatality | 179 |
chapter five Reimagining Medea as American Other | 190 |
Epilogue | 229 |
Appendix A Professional Productions and new Versions of Sophocles | 239 |
Professional Productions and new Versions of Aeschyluss | 259 |
Professional Productions and new Versions | 265 |
Appendix E Professional Productions and new Versions | 277 |
Appendix F Professional Productions and new Versions | 295 |
Appendix G other Professional Productions and new Versions | 303 |
Notes | 309 |
References | 343 |
| 363 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
actors actress adapted Aeschylus's Agamemnon aimed Ajax Alcestis American Theatre ancient Antigone April audience August Berkeley Bigsby Boston Browne central century chapter characters Chicago choral choreography chorus Classic Stage Company classical Clytemnestra confrontation contemporary costumes Creon critics cultural dance developed Dionysus directed discussed Duncan early Electra Eumenides Euripides February female Foley Gage Graham Greek drama Greek tragedy Hartigan Hecuba heroine Iphigeneia January Jason Jocasta John June later Lincoln Center Living Theatre March Margaret Anglin Martha Graham Medea melodrama modern mother movement myth nicholas Rudall nineteenth November october Oedipus opera Orestes outdoor Partch Pentheus performances of Greek Performing Arts play's Players political Prometheus Repertory ritual Robert role San Francisco scene September social song Sophocles stage starring story Theater Theatre Company theatrical tion Tiresias tour tragic translated Trojan Women United University version of Euripides versions of Greek Village Voice Washington York Public Library york’s